1. They Cannot Go To Heaven

2. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

3. John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
cf. Matthew 6:9, Acts 2:33

4. Not Everyone Is Going To Heaven
Matthew 7: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

5. It Is Not God’s Fault
1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

6. They cannot go to heaven because of sin.
Ezekiel 18:4
“ Behold, all souls are Mine;       The soul of the father       As well as the soul of the son is Mine;       The soul who sins shall die.
Isaiah 59:1-2
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened,       That it cannot save;       Nor His ear heavy,       That it cannot hear.        2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;       And your sins have hidden His face from you,       So that He will not hear.

7. They cannot go to heaven because of sin.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…

8. They cannot go to heaven whose sin is not forgiven.
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Hebrews 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

9. Forgiveness of sins is in Christ.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

10. We get in Christ by obeying the gospel.
Romans 6:17-18a But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin,…
Romans 6:3-8
Cf. Romans 1:16
Galatians 3: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

11. We get in Christ by obeying the gospel.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

12. Baptism Alone?
Acts 8:36-37a Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

13. They cannot go to heaven who do not do the Father’s will.
Matthew 7:21-24a 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man…

14. The NT contains the Father’s will for us.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 16: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

15. We must give up our own will.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,       But its end is the way of death.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

16. They cannot go to heaven who don’t work to get there.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

17. Lay aside every weight. Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

18. Live righteously. 1 Peter 2:9-11
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
    11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

19. Make heaven the goal. Colossians 3:1-4
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

20. Prepare to meet your God!
Believe – John 8:24
Repent – Luke 13:3
Confess – Romans 10:10
Be Baptized – Mark 16:16
Be Faithful – Revelation 2:10